Sharon and I weren’t originally intending to host a garden walk this month, but we decided to offer one as a make-up/rain date for those who couldn’t make it last time due to the crazy weather. I’m so glad we did! This time we started a little bit earlier to make time for extended introductions and I was amazed yet again by the magic that happens when you bring like-minded, open-hearted people together into circle.

I am an introvert and I used to dread activities where you had to introduce yourself or do some kind of icebreaker activity. And I still would in certain settings (i.e. most networking events are my worst nightmare), but CQC is different. With the foundation of a shared interest, especially one like seasonal living, the conversation flowed so easily and naturally. We ended up staying a whole hour past the end time, just chatting and rediscovering the garden after dark! Cross Quarter Club really is a “come as strangers, leave as friends” sort of a group and I love it.

First-time attendee Janelle brought along her sister and this Soulflower Plant Spirit Oracle deck to share with us. And dang, if the card I pulled wasn’t precisely what I needed to hear in this moment. It was such a fun little addition - I might need to order a deck to have on hand for all CQC events, for anyone who needs some words of encouragement!

Community-building is my true heart and intention for Cross Quarter Club. I didn’t know exactly what community-building meant or how to do it when I started, but it has been my sincere intention to learn and grow as a facilitator as we go. Last night, it felt like a flash of what I’ve always dreamed of for this community and it was so affirming to experience CQC living into its potential in this way. As the evening came to a close, it was so meaningful to have attendees share how refreshing and restorative the evening was for them too.

The beautiful photos in this slide show are by Bradania McWilliams. Thank you for sharing them with us!

The thing I love most about having our garden walks on Fridays is what a welcome respite they are after a busy week. At each of the two we've held so far, many of us (including me!) arrived feeling stressed and run down, but in the hours we spent connecting with the gardens and each other, our nervous systems totally reset. After walking slowly (barefoot optional!) through the meandering circular path of the gardens, taking time to stop and sit a while, and discovering all 15 of Sharon’s sensory scavenger hunt signs, I felt calm and renewed.

Gardens are so healing, and this was why Sharon wanted to create this event — to invite others into the beautiful space she’s created at Little Farm Flowers East to experience the same soul-nourishment that it gives her. The fact that we get to do it in community with like-minded people, sharing stories and knowledge, forging new connections and tending to established ones, while finding nurture and belonging — that’s the icing on the cake.